It is obvious that African concepts of human rights and civil society differ from those in the Western world, concludes this paper in the Peace Studies Journal. In addition, the traditional concept of civil society has been used and exploited in the past by Western colonial authorities to achieve their interests. "The question therefore is to what extent the much-touted concept of civil society and its accompanying NGO mushrooming on the continent can offer any real hope for redeeming Africa's plight and giving us a means of hope for liberation and development."